Heading Wester

[Alcyone]

Louise and I did our first trip across the Irish Sea last weekend, visiting Waterford and dunmore East. Can't recommend it highly enough. Great fun.

Heading West, Thursday Evening

Sunrsise over the Saltee Islands

Tied up at Waterford

Waterford Sunset

Rafted with fishing boats, Dunmore East

Light winds, on the return

Dale pontoon, Sunday night. Beer and smiles, at the Griffin.

 

[chrishelen]

Well done to you,you are going to wear that boat out soon.

 

[Alcyone]

Well done to you,you are going to wear that boat out soon.

See the post on the club forum, Chris, about rough weather. On the monday, we virtually ripped the UV strip off and wrecked our autopilot in strong winds.

Worn out, indeed!

 

[Alcyone]

I've been arguing with Louise, too. I'm sure Waterford Sunset was a kinks song.............

 

[graham]

Nice one guys and great pictures too. Which way did you go around Skomer?

 

[Madhatter]

I've been arguing with Louise, too. I'm sure Waterford Sunset was a kinks song.............

Waterloo sunset
Dirty old river, must you keep rolling
Flowing into the night
People so busy, makes me feel dizzy
Taxi light shines so bright
But I dont need no friends
As long as I gaze on waterloo sunset
I am in paradise

Every day I look at the world from my window
But chilly, chilly is the evening time
Waterloo sunsets fine

Terry meets julie, waterloo station
Every friday night
But I am so lazy, dont want to wander
I stay at home at night
But I dont feel afraid
As long as I gaze on waterloo sunset
I am in paradise

Every day I look at the world from my window
But chilly, chilly is the evening time
Waterloo sunsets fine

Millions of people swarming like flies round waterloo underground
But terry and julie cross over the river
Where they feel safe and sound
And the dont need no friends
As long as they gaze on waterloo sunset
They are in paradise

Waterloo sunsets fine

 

[Alcyone]

Nice one guys and great pictures too. Which way did you go around Skomer?

Hi Graham.

It was neaps, and running South until we passed teh smalls, so I stayed South of the islands. Same, as it happened, on the way back. I've dived around those islands, and rocks almost all my life, so it was a big temptation to get in close for a look, and I did get within 1/2 mile of th esmalls at slack.

I know a keen sailor who hit Mersey rock off Grassholm though, and the tides around all those areas can be as strong as the upper reaches of the Bristol channel, so stayed clear.

 

[Alcyone]

Waterloo sunset
Dirty old river, must you keep rolling
Flowing into the night
People so busy, makes me feel dizzy
Taxi light shines so bright
But I dont need no friends
As long as I gaze on waterloo sunset
I am in paradise

Every day I look at the world from my window
But chilly, chilly is the evening time
Waterloo sunsets fine

Terry meets julie, waterloo station
Every friday night
But I am so lazy, dont want to wander
I stay at home at night
But I dont feel afraid
As long as I gaze on waterloo sunset
I am in paradise

Every day I look at the world from my window
But chilly, chilly is the evening time
Waterloo sunsets fine

Millions of people swarming like flies round waterloo underground
But terry and julie cross over the river
Where they feel safe and sound
And the dont need no friends
As long as they gaze on waterloo sunset
They are in paradise

Waterloo sunsets fine

I know, I know. Waterford Sunset sounds nicer though!

As a postscript, I did make a post on the club Forum. On the Monday after returning, we headed out towards Skomer, force 4/5 occ 6 forecast. By the time we realised it was not pleasant, and turned back, visbility was less than 1/2 mile in driving rain, and the big swells and tide, together with the fact that I could only fly the main with 2 reefs, meant that it took us 5 hours to travel 3.75 miles to round St Anne's head. I was convinced it was blowing a gale, but the forecast was still sayang 4/5 occ 6 when we got back.

Determined not to be put off, we went out with the same forecast, less rain, last Friday. Sailed upwind with full sail, up to 6 knots through the water, loving it the whole time. Full sail downwind in a Force 5 on Sat, and again, nothing but fun.

I can't get my head around why the conditions were so bad last week. There were waves breaking near St Anne's head that must have been 4m or more. Another yacht was towed in by Angle lifeboat.

Does anyone know if a South Easterly funnels off St Anne's Head, leading to stronger winds there?

 

[Madhatter]

I know, I know. Waterford Sunset sounds nicer though!
---->

Must agree with you there, and nice picture

 

[Coaster]

Does anyone know if a South Easterly funnels off St Anne's Head, leading to stronger winds there?

In our limited experience, wind against tide produces nasty water at the various overfalls sites around Pembrokeshire, such as near to St Anne's Head. If you keep more than a mile off, then come in to the Haven on whichever side is the most sheltered, you'll do best.

Did you use your engine at any time during the 5 hours you spent travelling so slowly over the ground?

 

[Alcyone]

In our limited experience, wind against tide produces nasty water at the various overfalls sites around Pembrokeshire, such as near to St Anne's Head. If you keep more than a mile off, then come in to the Haven on whichever side is the most sheltered, you'll do best.

Did you use your engine at any time during the 5 hours you spent travelling so slowly over the ground?

Amazingly, the tide was running North, more or less with the wind, and against us. I managed to get past the head before the tide turned against the wind. I really didn't fancy being out there when the wind against tide started.

Engine on, more or less full, all the time, as I tried to sail. Motoring directly against the wind and swells gave me less than 1/2 a knot (only 10HP in Ishtar). I ended up doing long tacks, 3 miles or so, to make 1/2 mile forwards. The swells and leeway prevented me pointing any higher.

I'm now convinced the wind was much stronger than predicted, with consequent sea conditions.

I did stay off St Anne's head. The breaking waves there were scary. In a calm, I sail right under the lighthouse, but there was no way I was getting near those rocks with that wind and sea.

What has scared me, is that I thought I knew what a Force 6, s forecast, was like. Now I'm going to give it a lot more thought, and build in a big error factor, especially on a longer passage.

It's all part of the learning experience, but I don't mind saying it's about as scared as I want to be in a boat.